Adjustable partition-frame for trunks



' No. 619,456. Patented Feb. |4,' I899.

c. n. WILLIAMSON. ADJUSTABLE PARTITIONv FRAME FOB TBUNKS.

' A lication filed. Dec. 14, 1898.

(No Model) n I. m

w: NORRIS PETERS co, woro-umu WASHINGYON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

CHARLES DRAKE WILLIAMSON, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEIV YORK.

ADJUSTABLE PARTITION-FRAME FOR TRUNKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,456, dated February 14, 1899. Application filed December 14, 1898 Serial No. 699,213. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES DRAKE WIL- LIAMSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of No. 18 Parker avenue, Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Partition- Frames for Trunks, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to an improved construction of adjustable partition-frame for trunks or other packing-cases which is made portable and adapted to be placed bodily Within a trunk or removed bodily therefrom at the pleasure of the user.

My improvements consist in novel features of construction, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a perspective view of my improved adjustable partition-frame in position within a trunk. Fig. II is a detail corner view showing the sliding connection between the adjustable partition and its frame. I III is a similar view showing a slight modi,- fication.

A trunk or other packing-case having a body 1 of any preferred form I provide with lower end cleats 2, upper end cleats 4, and intermediate end cleats 3. Upon the lower end cleats may be supported a false bottom 5, forming, in connection with the lower portion of the body, a bottom compartment 6. Upon the upper end cleats is supported the usual tray 7.

My improved partition-frame, which I will now describe in detail, occupies the space between the bottom of the trunk and the tray or between the false bottom and the tray, according to whether or not the trunk is provided with a bottom compartment.

8 are two wire side frames which support the partitions, each being formed with longitudinal bars 8 and end bars 8 These side frames may each be formed in one or more pieces jointed together by means of sleeves 9.

The longitudinal barsprovide slideways on which one or more of my adjustable partitions 10 are adapted to be moved back and forth to the desired position, where they are then secured by suitable means. The adj ustable partitions are each formed with transverse bars 11, preferably of flat steel, having their end portions 11 crossing the longitudinal bars 8 of the side frames, lapping around the same, and then extending inwardly approximately parallel with the body portion of the transverse bars to provide clamp-plates 11 Instead of being formed in one piece with the end portions 11,as shown in Figs. I and II, these clamp-plates may be separate pieces, as shown in Fig. III.

12 are double body-bars of spring-steel wire, passing through holes in the transverse bars and having their ends 12 turned inward.

13 are distance -blocks or washers surrounding the end body-bars so as to occupy spaces of equal height to the diameter of the longitudinal bars. The ends of the clampplates are formed with openings to receive the end body-bars and bear against the distance-blocks or washers, while their inner ends bear against the longitudinal bars. For binding the clamp-plates against the longitudinal bars and distance-blocks or washers to hold the partitions immovable after being adjusted to the desired position, I employ screws 14, preferably thumb-screws, working loosely through the end portions of the transverse bars and engaging screw-threaded openings in the clampplates. To prevent the accidental withdrawal of the screws, I may apply nuts to the inner ends thereof, as shown in dotted lines. It will be readily understood that by a slight turn of the screws the partitions can be loosened, so as to be able to slide them back and forth until placed in desired position, where they can be secured by tightening the screws.

My partition-frame being of skeleton construction and also of wire provides a cushioning device for the contents of the trunk, while the partitions and side frames being readily detachable from each other it provides a portable knockdown device which can be easily carried, as little room is occupied by it when taken apart.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A portable, insertible, and removable partition-frame for trunks comprising a pair of supporting side frames, each side frame having longitudinal bars providing slideways an adjustable partition constructed With transverse bars having their end portions extending across, and connected With, the said longitudinal bars, so as to adapt it to slide back and forth thereon, and means for fastening the said partition in the position to which it is moved; substantially as described.

2. A partition frame for trunks comprising a pair of supporting side frames each side frame having longitudinal bars formed with inturned ends, sleeves whereby the inturned ends are connected together, an adjustable partition connected with the said longitudinal bars so as to adapt it to slide back and forth thereon, and means for fastening the said partition in the position to which it is moved; substantially as described.

3. A partition -frame for trunks comprising a pair of supporting side frames each side frame having longitudinal bars, providing slideways an adjustable partition constructed with transverse bars having their end portions extending across and lapping around the said longitudinal bars and extending inwardly so as to adapt them to slide back and forth thereon and the clamping-screws Working through the end portions whereby the said end portions are clamped to the longitudinal bars when the partition is moved to the desired position; substantially as described.

4.. A partition -frame for trunks comprising a pair of supporting side frames, each side frame having longitudinal bars, an adjustable partition constructed with transverse bars having their end portions extending across and lapping the said longitudinal bars, the body -bars of the partition extending through the transverse bars, and a corner fastening consisting of a distance-collar, sur rounding an end body-bar and located inside of a transverse bar, a clamp-plate adapted to slide on the said end body-bar, extending across the longitudinal bar and bearing against the latter and the collar, and a clampin g-screw Working through an end portion and threaded into the clamp plate between the longitudinal bar and the collar; substantially as described.

5. A partition-frame for trunks, comprising a pair of supporting side frames, each side frame having longitudinal bars providing slideways, an adjustable partition constructed with transverse bars having their end portions extending across and lapping around the said longitudinal bars, the double bodybars of the partition, extending through the transverse bars, having inturned ends, and clamping-screws working through the end portions; substantially as described.

6. The combination of a trunk having upper and intermediate end cleats, the portable insertible and removable partition frame comprisinga pair of supporting side frames, having longitudinal bars and end portions fitting between the end cleats, an adjustable partition connected with the said longitudinal bars so as to adapt it to slide back and forth thereon, and means for fastening the said partition in position; substantially as described.

7. The combination of trunk having upper, lower, and intermediate end cleats, the false bottom resting on the end cleats, the portable insertible and removable partitionframe supported on the false bottom comprising a pair of supporting side frames having longitudinal bars and end portions fitting between the end cleats, an adjustable partition connected with the said longitudinal bars so as to adapt it to slide back and forth thereon, and means for fastening the said partition in position; substantially as described.

UHARLES DRAKE WILLIAMSON. dVitnesses:

WILLIAM R. WOODIN, CHARLES M. SMALLEY. 

